U.S. Navy Doubles UAS Command and Control Capacity with Second MD-5C, Powered by Skunk Works® MDCX™
PR Newswire•30/09/2026•16:50 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤U.S. Navy doubles MQ-25A Stingray carrier capacity in five months
- ➤Second operational MD-5C installed aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
- ➤MDCX software enables operators to command and control MQ-25A Stingray
- ➤USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) received first operational MD-5C in March 2026
Expert Statements
Daniel Fucito, PMA-268 program manager
“These two operational unmanned air warfare centers aboard CVN 71 and CVN 76 bring us closer to integrating unmanned carrier aviation into the fleet”
Daniel Fucito, PMA-268 program manager
“Thanks to the incredible work from our joint Navy and Lockheed Martin team, these carriers are ready to fly the MQ-25A.”
Daniel Fucito, PMA-268 program manager
“By pairing our unmanned systems with our manned aircraft, we are building a more resilient, adaptable force that is better prepared to win the fight.”
Ben Tongue, MDCX Program Manager
“MDCX is delivering on the promise of a ready-now, open-architecture command and control platform for the fleet”
Ben Tongue, MDCX Program Manager
“In five months, we've doubled the number of U.S. Navy carriers ready to fly the MQ-25A Stingray.”
Ben Tongue, MDCX Program Manager
“Our team, in close coordination with the Navy, is establishing the command and control backbone for the Carrier Air Wing of the Future.”
U.S. Navy Doubles UAS Command and Control Capacity with Second MD-5C, Powered by Skunk Works® MDCX™ PR Newswire
PALMDALE, Calif., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy has doubled its fleet capacity to operate the MQ-25A Stingray™ unmanned aircraft system (UAS) over a five-month period, standing up a second operational MD-5C Ground Control Station (GCS) powered by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works(® )(NYSE: LMT) MDCX™ autonomy platform.
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